Grade 5 - English Language1.13 Prefixes - Il, Im, In, and Ir

A prefix is a syllable at the beginning of a word that changes its meaning. The prefix il, im, in and ir all mean not.

Examples:Illogical means not logical or practical.Impossible means not possible.Invisible means not visible.Irrelevant means not relevant or practical.

prefix

word

New word

New meaning

im

+

mature

=

immature

not mature

im

+

prudent

=

imprudent

not prudent

im

+

provable

=

improvable

not provable

im

+

mortal

=

immortal

not mortal

im

+

perfect

=

imperfect

not perfect

prefix

word

New word

New meaning

il

+

legible

=

illegible

not legible

il

+

literate

=

illiterate

not literate

prefix

word

New word

New meaning

ir

+

relevant

=

irrelevant

not relevant

ir

+

rational

=

irrational

not rational

prefix

word

New word

New meaning

in

+

adequate

=

inadequate

not adequate

in

+

capable

=

incapable

not capable

in

+

decent

=

indecent

not decent

in

+

offensive

=

inoffensive

not offensive

Directions: Choose the prefix that should be added to the root word given in each question to form a correct word. Also, write five example words and sentences using each of the prefixes 'il', 'im', 'in', and 'ir'.